President George W. Bush just gave what is billed as the final press conference of his presidency. He opened with some gracious remarks about the press and self-deprecating humor (“sometimes you misunderestimated me”). Sadly, it didn’t sound like anyone laughed.
After the short opening, President Bush opened the floor for questioning, where he answered questions about TARP funding, the President-Elect, Israel, Hamas, his “mistakes”, and the world’s impression of our nation.
There’s no question that President Bush has been much maligned, especially by the liberal media. You have to wonder how much of that has to do with the political polarization of our society or how much is due to the natural position of the press to question the government. Regardless, even in the final press conference, it seemed as if many of those in the room has little respect and certainly little love for the man who has led the free world for nearly eight years. I find that sad.
President Bush on the other hand stood there with an unyielding confidence and a gracious respect for those who question him. And he let every one of them ask him questions. Taking one final opportunity to defend his Presidency and the decisions he made.
My concerns with President Bush deal with his approval of spending and lack of fiscal responsibility… these bailouts and his lack of conservatism on issues such as illegal immigration concern me… not how he ran the White House or the wars. As time passes, history should vindicate and applaud President Bush on the war on terror, the response to September 11th, Afghanistan, Iraq, how the White House was run, and even Katrina (30,000 people removed from rooftops… so much for a slow response). He also in earnest tried to fix social security only to be sabotaged by those who valued politics over principle. History should view President George W. Bush as a good man who everyday worked hard to do what was best for the American people. He kept us safe. He kept us free. President Bush wasn’t guided by politics or polls, or afraid to be attacked by the press… President Bush was guided by what he thought was right… many other politicians and Presidents could learn from that.
Unfortunately, history is often written by the same people who sit in the press room and question the President. And thus I worry if they will sabotage his legacy and skew his place in American history just like they have attempted to sabotage his Presidency and snipe at our country over the past eight years.
We have been safe. We have been free. A good man led as great men died all of them insuring we stayed that way. Unlike many in the liberal press, I am eternally grateful for that. I appreciate our President for the work he has done and the deliberate method in which he did it. This wasn’t a popularity contest, a false prophet or a power grab… from September 11th forward it was nothing more than a good man being a public servant, leading a great nation in times of uncertainty.
And I thank him for that.
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